Steam cooker



April 29, 1930. c. L. GoucsHNouR.A 1,756,787

Y a STEAM COOKER Filed nay 2e, 19.27 4 sheets-sheet 1 A .TTORNE Ywf" 1 NVEN 7 0R. Z. Vaag/220m y l. A m

GMW/eo" April 29, 1930. c. L.. GOUGHNQUR 1,756,787

STEAM COOKER Filed'uay 26, 1927 4 sheetssneer` v2 i (//III Apri@ 2%,1930. c. 1 GOUGHNOUR STEAM COOKER Filed May 26, 1927 4 Sheets-$11991. 3

INVENTOR. .G'gkzozm A TTORNEYJ Apli 29, 1930. c. z.. GOUGHNOUR 1,756,787

STEAM COOKER Filed May 2e, 1927 4 sheets-sheet' 4 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED sTA,

CHARLESL. GOUGHNO'UR, 0F JEFFERSON CITY, TENNESSE STEAM cooiznnappliaanm med may 2q,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steamcookers.

It has heretofore been customary, in steam cookers of the general typedisclosed in this 5 application, to construct such cookers of castmetal, such as aluminum or the like, and one of theprimary and importantobjects of this invention is to construct a steam cooker of sheet metalwith sheet metal contacts or joints between the two sections of thesteam cooker body that are assembled in a manner to provide a steamtight joint for the purpose of eliminating all machining or finishing ofthe contact faces of the joints as has heretofore been required in steamcookers formed of cast metal, thereby greatly reducing the cost ofmanufacture and providing a cooker that is more ecient in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam cooker formed ofthree major sections, the base section having the heating mediumassociated therewith while the two upper sections that a'reinterlocking'ly engaged with each other to form the steam cookingchamber are removably supported upon the base section. Another object ofthe invention isto provide in a steam cooker of the type above de.

scribed, a wedging interlocking connection between the two uppersections of the cooker to insure a steam tight joint between thecontacting sheet metal faces, the two upper sections being assembled lordis-assembled by relativelyl reverse rotary movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a steam pressure cookerwith a valve device that is automatic in its operation to permit all airtobe exhausted from the cooker during initial heating thereof with thesubsequent escape of steam and condensation thereof operating to closethe valve with the food cooked by super-heated dry steam in the preslence of the desired temperature.

A still further object of the invention is to a utilize the steampressure confined within the cooker for the automatic cut oii' oftheheating medium, adjustable devices being associated with the cooker thatare adapted to be initially set to cause the heating medium to 50 be cutof when a predetermined temperature 1927. serial No. 194,372.

within the cooker has been attained, the automatic t-of device being ofa nature to permit its association with the heating medium of thegaseous, fluid, or electrical type.

`With the above and other objects in view` that Vwill become apparent-as the nature of the invention is better understood, the s ame consistsin the n'ovel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings-and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters areemployed to inv dicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.65

I Figure'l is a vertical sectionalview of a steam cooker constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the same being illustrated as'constructed of sheet metal with abutting 'contact faces of sheet metalform-70 ing the joint between the two sections ofthe cooking chamber,the heating medium carried by the base section being an elect-ricresistance element and further showing the steam pipe connectionbetweenthe head of the cooker and the automatic valve that closes thecooking chamber to the atmosphere after 'ghe escape of all air from thecooking chamer;l t v Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken 30 online 2 2 of Figure 1 showin the implement in position for rotating t einter-engaged parts of the cooking chamber to aifect a Wedginginterlocking connection;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view 35 taken on line 3-3 iof Figure2. showing` the engaged Wedge lug on the meeting edges of the upper andlower sect-ions of the cooking chamber;

-:Figure 4 1s a detail sectional View similar 90 to Figure 3 showing thelugs laterallydisplaced;

Figure 51s ahorizontal sectional viewltaken -on line 5-5-of Figure lshowing the heating 95 rid; g Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectionalvieww of the joint between fthe edges of the two upper cooker sectionsshowing the metal rings with which the sheet metal walls of the cookerare engaged and also a part of a pan rack;

medium;

' a steam hose connection with a valve carried Figure 9 is a detailsectional view taken on line 9--9 of Figure 1; I Figures 10 and 11 arefragmentary top plan views of the upperand lower pan supporting racks;

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view of another type of automatic valvefor closingthe steam cooking chamber to the atmosphere after all air hasbeen exhausted;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a p art of thecooker base showingA the indicator for the vvalve adjusting means;

and

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view taken 'on line 11i-14 of Figure 1.

The steam cooker disclosed herein comprises three main sections, one ofthe sections to be hereinafter'referred to as a base with the other twosections forming the cooking chamber that may be separately or unitarilymounted yupon and removedfrom the hase. The heating medium is associatedwith the base section, and as an illustration of such heating medium,there is disclosed an electric resistance element. Manually operableswitches for controlling the resistance are carried by the base sectionand a single automatic switch is in the resistance circuit for cuttinout the source of ener at predetermined temperatures. A wedglnginterlocking connection is formed between the two sections of thecooking chamber to effect a steamtight joint. The walls of the cookingchamber are formed of sheet metal with a cast ring at the edges of thesheetmetal sections that are interlockingly engaged, the sheet metaledges of the two sections of the cooking chamber abutting when thesections are assembled and forming a steam tight joint. rlhe lowerVsection of the cooking chamber is of single wall formation while theupper section thereof is of double wall formation having a nonconductorof heat packing embedded therein, such as asbestos or the like. A plugis car-VA ried by the upper section of the cooking chamber at the topwall thereof and supports a thermometer for determining temperatures`during cooking operations, a safety valve and by the base section thatis associated with the phere of air within the cooker and to beautomatically vclosed when all air has escaped and after steam hascondensedtherein so that the cooking operation is accomplished in thepresence of superheated steam. Referring more in detail to theaccompanying drawings, there is illustrated a steam cooker comprising abase heating section and l van upper cooking chamber, the detailconconfiguration as shown in Figure 1 and to.

which ring a sheet metal bowl 2 is permanently secured. The sheet metalbowl is enclosed bythe ring l and the upper edge of the bowl is rolledover the ring with thefree edge lthereof forced into the annular groove3 at the outer side of the rin under pressure for' holding the partsrigi ly assembled. The

exposed sheet metal face 4 at the outer side of the ring adjacent theupper end is arranged at an inclination as shown from the upper edge 5thereof. The lower outer edge of the ring 1 is annularly grooved as at'6 to accommodate mounting of the ring upon the base section in a mannerto be hereinafter described while the outer side of the ring l betweenthe upper and lower edges thereof is formed with a plurality ofoutwardly extending lugs 7 having parallel end walls 8 and an inclinedbott\o1n`wall 9, thelugs being equidistantly spacedapart.

The upper section of the cooking chamber comprises a metal ring 10 ofthe form best illustrated in Figures 1 and 6 having adepending ridge 11on the inner face thereof adjacent its upper end definin an undercut 1annular pocket 12 and further aving an annular groove 13' substantiallyat the median line of the inner side: A plurality of inwardly projectinglugs 14 are provided on the inner face of the ring 10 at its lower edgehaving parallel end walls 15 and an inclined upice per wall 16, theinclined wallsl or faces 9 and Y 16 of the lugs 7 and 14 extending inopposite directions so that when the two rings lof the cooking chambersections are assembled,

shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spaces between the several lugs 7 and 14permitting assembl of the two rings.

v The upper section of the cooking chamber is of double wall formationhaving an Vinner wall 17 and an outer wall. 18. The two walls 17 and 18are formed of sheet metal, the wall 17 being bent around the ledge A11and into the undercut annular ocket 12 with the edge thereofV forcedinto t e' annular groove'13. The sheet metal wall 17 is mounted on thering 10 under die pressure or -the like and 'automatic switch. The valveis constructed/in view of the interlocking, engagement bein a manner topermit the escape toatmostween the wall 17 and ring 10 occasioned hywedging engagement is accomplished as .thel grooved portions of thering, the wall and ring are rigidly retained in assembled formationagainst relative movement.V The sheet metal walll 17 presents aninclined face intermediate the undercut pocket 12 and. groove 13 asindicated by the numeral 19 that mates with the inclined face 4 upon thelower section of the cooking chamber. With the two rings assembled asshown in Figures 1 and 6, an annular space exists between the led e 11and upper end 5 of the ring 1. The wel ging action between thecooperating lugs 7 and 14 causes a binding action between the inclinedfaces 4 and 19 and provides a sheet metal contact or joint that is leakproof against the escape of steam. With a sheet metal joint of thischaracter, as contrasted with cast aluminum or other metal cookers, allmachining of the contact faces is eliminated, the binding action of thewedging lugs affecting a steam tight joint between the contacting sheetmetal faces and greatly reducing the cost of manufacture.

The upper .section of the cooking chamber is of dome-shape, the loweredge of the outer wall 18 resting upon the annular ledge 20 at the outerside of the ringv10 while a plug 21 is set into an opening in the centerof the top of `the upper section. :A filling 22 of asbestos or the likeis placed between the spaced walls 17 and 18 to confine heat within thecooking chamber. 'The plug 21 carriesan annular 'clamping iange 23 atits lower end that engages the inner face of the inner wall 17 and theclamping'nut 24 threadedon the plug has an annular flange 25 at itsupper end that engages the outer wall 18, the two walls 17 and 18 beingclamped between the flanges 23 and 25 of the plug 21 and clamping nut24. An axial bore 26 formed in the plug 21 and opening to the interiorof the cooking chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the sideports 27, the bore being normally closed by the spring valve 28 thatconstitutes A a safety blow-oif valve. A 'thermometer tube 29 is setinto a longitudinal groove in the side wall of the plug 21 fordetermining cooking temperatures while a laterally projecting nipple `30carried by the plug 21l and communicating with the bore 26 is providedfor'purposes presently to appear.

The base section of the cooker upon which the two part cooking chamberisremovably mounted, as shown in Figure l, is formed of sheet met-alhaving an annular side wall 317 va bottom wall 32 set upwardly from thelower edge of the side wall, while` the upper edge of the annular sidewall 31 is bent inwardly at right angles as at 33 to provide ahorizontal shelf and then. downwardly as at 34 for arelatively shortdistance, the base section receiving a filler 22 similar to the uppercooking chamber. While it is intended that any character of heatingmedium desired may be associated with the base section of the cooker,

the same is'herein illustrated as electrically heated. A concaveprocelain disk 35 as shown in Figures 1 and 5 with a spiral groove inits upper concave face for the electric resistance v element( isset-into the base, section and theV support therefor comprises a pair ofring members 36 and 37. The ring member 36 is supported bythe ringmember 37 while the porcelain disk 35 supported at its peripheral edgeby the ring member 37 is set into'the ring member 36. When so disposed,the up- 'per edge of the ring member 36 is engaged with the underside ofthering membbebi' 37 to move the same upwardly in a mannerl as will atonce be obvious from an inspection of Fig-v ures 1 and 4.

The source of electrical energy associated with the spirally grooveddisk 35 for heating thev cooker is diagrammaticallynllustrated in Figure7, there being a pair of lead-in wires a and b having fuse inserts @,thewire d from wire a leading to manual switches e andf,

Vwhile the wire g from the wire b leads to an automatic switch h. Theswitch e has a wire connection z' with the section of resistance 7' thatis set into the spiralgrooveof the concaved ldisk 35, the wire le fromthe' section of resistance 7' leading to the automatic switch L-by' thewire m. `The resistance section 7' is in series lwith tle two resistancev sections n and o while the wire p from the switch f leads to theresistance sections n and o. The wire 1'v from the resistance section oreturns-to thewire m and automatic switch it. Each of the resistancesections 7', n 'and opcarries a capacity of 600 watts and with. thisarrangement of switches it is possible to employ a capacity of either600, 1200, or 1800 watts. When using 600 watts. the switch f ,is openedandthe switch c is closed, the current flowing through the resistance 7'and returning to the lead in wire .7) by way of the wires la, 7n,automatic switch h and wire g. lVhen it is desired to employ aresistance capacity of 1200 watts, the switch. e is manually opened andthe switch f closed, the current fiowing from the switch f through th'ewire 79 to resistance sections n and 0 and return- ,ing over wires 76and 7' to wire m, automatic switch z, and'wire g. When employing lthefull resistance capacity of 1800 watts, both manual switches e and f areclosed. rIhe switch L that is automatic in its operation anddiagrammatically illustratedin Figure 7 as a preferred form thereofillustrated in Figures 18 and 9 with temperature and pressure operatingdevices associated therewith for operating the same.

I i The switch k is set into a compartment in the base'section of thecooker thatl is formed by the sheet metal Wall 39, a pair of spacedknife' switch contacts 40 being carried by the insulationV block. 41that is mounted on bracket 41a and to whichA the circuit wires g and mare connected. The rod 42 is journaled in the side wall 31 of the basesection and has a squared portion 43 that rotatably and slidably extendsthrough the side wall'of the housing 39. `The squared end 43 of the rod42 extends through a square bore in the externallythreaded sleeve 44that has threaded engagement with thering 45 that is xed to insulationsleeve 46, the upper side of the sleeve carrying an'arm 47fthat extendsinto the slot 48 in the top wall of the housing 39 c to prevent rotationthereof while the lower i end yof said sleeve 46 carries adouble switchvblade 49 having the separate switch blades 50 respectively engaged withthe switch blade contacts 40. A finger 51 projects from one end of theinsulation sleeve 46 to be engaged by a steam pressure operated devicefor automatically opening the switch at predeter-l mined temperatures inthe cooking chamber. The outer end of the rotatable rod 42 as shown inFigure 13 carries an operating head 52' and an indicator finger 53moving. over the dial-54 on the outer side of the base section soV thatthe switch blades 5() may be prilmarily set with-respect to the switchblade contacts 40 to adectr automatic opening of the switch atpredetermined temperatures.

An automatically operating valve is associated with the cooker to permitthe-escape of all air from the cooking chamber that operate's in thepresence of steam to cut olf communication between the interior of thecookbody 55 carries a bellows diaphragm 57 inl proximity of the linger51 upon the insulation sleeve 46 while the outer end of the valve -bodycarries a .nipple 458. A steamhose 59 extends between the nipple 58 onthe valve body 55 and the nipple 30 upon the head plug 21. A depression'or cavity 60 is formedin the valve body 25 outwardly ofthe sidewall v31of the base section while a vent opening 61 is formed in thev upperside of the valve body above the cavity, a ball valve 62 ofthe portabletype being received in the cavit to operate 1n a manner to benow descried. With the two sections of the cooker assembled as shown in Figure 1,the inner Vedge* i i of the leg 33 upon the base section forms a sheetfor the annular groove 6 in the ring 1 with the bowl-shaped sheet, metalpan 2 of the lower section of the cooking chamber disposed in proximityto the electric resistance element. The automaticswitch being normallyclosed and it being desired to cook at low temperature utilizingresistance of-GOO watts capacity, the switch e is manually closed and.the current Hows through the resistance'section y'. vThe two sections ofthe cooking chamber are assembled in a manner as previously described bythe use of the tool 63 that is extended through one of the openings 64in the two sections of the cooking chamber are disassembled by thereverse use of the tool 63 in placing the same in the other opening 64.

The air in the cooking chamber escapes through the bore 26 in the plug21 and flows through the steam hose 59 into the valve body 55 to escapethrough the vent 61. Upon the generation of steam within the cookingchamv ber, there is an initial escape in alike manner and also thecollection ofcondensation in the cavity 60 for floating the' ball valve62 to close the vent 61, the cooking chamber at thistime being entirelyfreed of all air so that the cooking operation is accomplished only inthe presence of steam. The safety valve 28 in the plug 21 operates inthe presence ofl excessive steam pressure to vent through the port 27while the temperature in the cooking chamber is indicated by thethermometer 29.

Should a higher temperature occur in the cooking chamber than for whichthe cooking operation is intended by the indicatornger 53, there will bea corresponding increase in steam pressure within the cooking chamberthat is also present in the valve body 55 for operating the bellowsdiaphragm 57, and upon expansion of said diaphragm, the finger 51vcarried by the insulation sleeve 46 which in turn carries the switchblades, is shifted y with the externally threaded sleeve 44 upon thesquared portion 43 of the-rod 42 for displacing the knife blades 50 fromengagement with the knifeblade contacts 40 thereby breaking the circuitYand cutting oifthe source of energy. It will be observed that the valve55 permits the exhaustin of all air from the4 cooking chamber and a sooperates to work the automatic switch 7p. The valve 55 operv ate's in alike manner when other sections of the resistance are in use while theringer 51 may be adjusted with respect to the diaphragm bellows 57 tocause automatic operation of the switch )t at the desired temperature.

Cooking in separate vessels 65 in the `ycooking chamber is accomplishedby the provision of the pan racks as shown in Figures 1 and l0,

one of the racks being supported upon the upper end 5 of the ring 1 andcomprising a. cor-Y rugated wire ring 66 having the corrugations'thereof alternately bent in opposite directions as shown in Figure 6with the outwardly bent- .corrugations of the ring having a circularband 67 soldered or otherwise secu-red thereto, the outer corrugationsof the ring 66 resting upon the upper end of the ring 1 as shown inFigure 6 while thel band 67 engages the inner upper side of said ring.The pan 65 is set into the inwardly bent corrugations of the ring 66.The rack for supporting the u per pan 65 thatin turn is supported upon te upper end of the lower pan 65 is shown in y se ing outwardly of thebase section. The cylinderl 72 that houses a freely movable ball valve73 has a removable screw plug '74 there- -in that is pivotally attachedas at 7 5 to the outer end of the switch lever' 71 while the u per endof the cylinder 72 has the Yremova le plug 74 in its lower en'd that ispivotally attached as at 75 to the switch lever 71. The up er end'ofthecy1inder`72 is enlarged as at 6 and has a piston 77 reciprocatingtherein, the piston 77 Vcarrying a tubular piston lrod 78 that extendeddownwardlythrough the enlarged bore 79 into the cylinder 72. The pistonrod 78 bein tubular is open at its lower end for cooperation with theball valve 73 while the'upper end thereof is closed, the

tubular piston rod 78 being provided with a side vent 79. The bracketarm 80 carried by the sidewall 31 of the base section is provided with apin 81A that extends into the slot 82 extending through the upper end ofthe tubular piston 78 for limiting movements thereof. The switch lever71 being spring pressed in opposite directions is of a strengthsufficient to support the cylinder 72. In the operation of this valvemechanism, the airis exhausted from the cooking chamber to the pipe 59and enters the cylinder 72 to escape upwardly through the tubular pistonrod 8 and side vent 79. The subsequent escape of steam providescondensation in the cylinder 72 and a ioating of the ball valve 73 toclose the lower endof the tubular piston rod, the steam then passingthrough the enlar ed bore 79 to engage the upper. face of the p1ston77in the'upper enlarged end 76 of the cylinder 72 to move the piston 77upwardly a distance that is limited by the pin and slot 81--82 with thesubsequent lowering movement of the cylinder 72 for operating the switchlever 7l,

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, itbeing notedthat there is provided a steam-tight sheet metal jointbetween the upper and lower sections of the cooking chamber, thepeculiar interlocking connection between the two rings 1 and '10 of thetwo parts of the cooking chamber provides for an intimate binding andsteam tight joint between the abutting sheet metal faces of the twosections. The operation of either ofthe valves 55 or 72 will also beapparent, it being noted that in each instance, all air is first'exhalisted `from the 'cooking chamber and that'subsequent condensationof steamin the valve eEects closing thereof to the atmosphere andconfining of the steam. The op-.v

eration of each automatic electric switch will also be apparent, theswitch shown in Figure V 1 being operated by the bellows diaphragm .57wh1le the pressure operated valve cylinder 72 operates the snap switch70 shown in Figure 12.

- While there are herein shown and described the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minorchanges may be made therein ,without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. What I claim as'new is 1. In a steam cooker of thecharacter described, a heater base section'and an upper cooking chamberformed of two sections, the two sections of the cooking chamber beingformed of'sheet metal, a ring carried by each section of the cookingchamber and a wedging interlocking connection between the rings of thecooking chamber to cause binding engagement of the sheet metal joint.

2: In a steam cooker of the character described, a cooking chamberconstructed of -themeeting edge of each section and concentricallyarranged when the sections are assembled and a plurality of wedge lugscarried by the ring with the lugs of one rin'gI engaged-with the `lugsof the other ring in superposed relation to effect a steam-tight jointbetween the two sections.

3. In a steam cooker, a cooking chamber and a valve associated therewithand operat ing to permit the exhaust to atmosphere of air within thecooking chamber and cutting olf communication between the cookingchamber and atmosphere upon the presence of steam condensation therein.

4. In a steam cooker of the character described, a cooking chamberformed of mating linterlocking sections, a valve in communication withthe cooking chamber, said valve having a vent td permit the escape ofair from the Cooking chamber, and a floatto close the vent upon thepresence of steam condensation in the valve. f

e 5. In a steam cooker of the character described, a cooking chamberformed of mating 5 interlockingsections, a valve in communication withthe cooking chamber, said valve vhaving a vent, a steam condensationsettling cavity and a oat valve in the cavity, whereby f condensed steamin the cavity iioats the valve 1 to close the vent after the air hasbeen .ex-

pelled. v

, 6. In a steam cooker of the character described, a cooking chamber, aheating base y section, and pan racks for the cooking chamber`comprisinga ring carrying a corrugated Awire band having ad] acent corrugationsbent in opposite directions for the support of the rack and a pan. 7. Ina steam cooker, a heater base section and an up er cooking chamberformed of two sections, tie two sections of the cooking cham- `ber beingformed or sheet metal a cast rin at the meeting edge of each cooizingcham er section with the sheet metal edge rolled therein, said ringstelescoping when the cooking chamber sections are assembled, andintertting lugs on the rings having Aopposed screw thread faces' forcausin bindingengagement of the sheet metal goint.

8. In a steam cooker, a heatenbase section and an upper cooking chamberformed of two sections', the two sections of the cooking chamber beingformed of sheet metal, a cast o ring at the meeting edge or each cookingas chamber section with the sheet metal edge rolled therein, said ringsteiescoping when the cooking chamber sections are assembled, andintertting lu s on the rings having opposed screw threa faces forcausing binding 6 engagement of the sheet metaljoint, the contactingfaces of the sheet metal joint being at an angleto-- the line ofcontacting acesof the rings to increase frictional contact when v therings are assembled.

@5 9. 'In a two-section sheet metal cooker, two

51s -A CHARLES L. ecce sheet metal cooker sections each ofreceptacle-like 'formation and a ciamping ring on the 'meeting edge ofeach section to present the sheet meta-l of the two sections 1n' tele-iscoping'relatio'ns vfor `veffecting a steam'tight joint when theclamping rings are engaged with .each other'below the sheet metal cn-vtacting points.

In testimony whereof I -ax m signature.

NOUR.

